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Welcome to Clif Notes Newsletter

July 22, 2007

  
Hi Everyone.

Thanks for reading my newsletter. Each week, I will have freeware reviews, tips, tricks, news, and lots of cool websites for you to check out.

I hope you enjoy this week's letter. Be sure to write me for advice or yell at me for messing up.

Email me

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visiting this newsletter!

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REVIEWS

TrendProtect - new protection from bad search results

review from ClifNotes, Jul 2007, permalink Security Tools

Mindblower recently mentioned a fairly new safe searching tool for the IE and Firefox browsers. He's very knowledgeable about web security so I thought I'd take a look at it.

Message from Mindblower:
To anyone still using SiteAdvisor. A newer product TrendProtect (from Trend Micro) is far superior in providing site feedback. Only one of the two functioning on your computer. Having used SA in the past, it's ancient history for me, Mindblower!

This week, my wife, Respect2Glory, had some troubles with her SiteAdvisor plugin. I sometimes see plugin issues for a short time after Firefox sends out an update, so I'm guessing that's what the problem was. I saw this as an opportunity and asked her to try out TrendProtect instead. She downloaded TrendProtect and installed it with no problems we could detect.

TrendProtect is a browser plugin similar to SiteAdvisor and CallingId. Each service has it's strong and weak points. TrendProtect is most similar to SiteAdvisor and here's a quick comparison of TP versus SA.
+ TP rates individual pages not just a domain
- TP doesn't rate downloads or check for spam emails
- TP doesn't tell you why a site is flagged
- TP has no site summary with user comments or explanations by the site owner

If I was a big user of sites like MySpace or other user generated websites, I might consider TP because it rates each page based on it's content. SA rates only the domain as a whole and doesn't have individual ratings on each page in a site.

I'm sorry Mindblower. I don't see any good reason to switch to TrendProtect. I find too much value in the site summaries at SiteAdvisor.com. I can still get those without the SA plugin, but it only takes a single click with SA installed.

Quote from the website
TrendProtect is a FREE browser plug-in that helps you avoid Web pages with unwanted content and hidden threats. TrendProtect rates the current page and pages listed in Google, MSN, and Yahoo search results. You can use the rating to decide if you want to visit or avoid a given Web page.

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/free_security_tools/trendprotect.php


Tidy Start Menu - a quick way to organize your programs

review from ClifNotes, updated Jul 2007, permalink Desktop Tools

The Programs folder under my Start menu gets mixed up very quickly. I sometimes use this program to clean it up.

The program can be confusing to use the first time. Paul wrote in to ask me about it.

Hey Clif,

I know you like to review software, particularly freeware. Wonder if you would take a look at the freeware version of Tidy Start Menu at www.tidystartmenu.com to see if I missed something. The freeware version appears to do absolutely nothing. I sent an email to the developer to commenting on that, but have not heard from him. I have found that most freeware at least does something, but I have found no redeeming value in having this piece of freeware on my computer. That's why I'm wondering if I just missed something.

I'd be interested in your thoughts.

Thanks
Paul

The free version of Tidy Start Menu is what some might call "Crippleware". The author left many of the paid features in the free version as grayed out menu items. This can be confusing ...

Hi Paul,

I just downloaded it and tried it again. I quickly found that you must ignore the grayed out category buttons. To use the program, choose the category you wish to manage and then place check marks beside the programs that you want to include in that category. Do this with each category and your Start Menu will soon be organized. There is no "save" button, just exit the program when you are done organizing.

Clif

Quote from the website
As time goes by, the list of the programs in the Start Menu becomes too long. As a result, each time you want to launch a program, it takes too much time to find it in the menu.

The "Tidy Start Menu" program will help you to put the menu in order and make your work comfortable.

http://www.tidystartmenu.com/index.shtml


Snowbird Search - finds files very fast

review from ClifNotes, updated Jul 2007, permalink File Management

I tried out Snowbird two or three years ago. It was written by a young programmer in India and it's been slowly evolving into a very good search tool. When I first tried it, Snowbird used to display the search results in a web browser. Since then, it's changed to allow you to view the results in the program interface and also preview some file types.

The amazing thing about Snowbird is it's size. It's only 22kb. This is definitely a portable tool you can take with you anywhere. No installation is needed. Just unzip the executable file and run it.

click to expand picture
Quote from the website
It's still the smallest and fastest non-indexing search tool! Maybe it can't search any faster, but you can find your results still faster now!

  • Snowbird 6 displays results in real-time as the search progresses
  • The new preview window lets you peek at text files, pictures and webpages from within Snowbird
Changes in version 6.1:
  • Save results as a HTML page
  • Option to search for a specific kind of file, eg. Pictures
http://www.geocities.com/casablanca2000in/msp/


Solway's Internet TV and Radio Player

review from ClifNotes, Jul 2007, permalink Multimedia Players

Kevin Solway has some nice freeware tools at his website. One of them is this multimedia player which seems to make use of Windows Media Player that comes on every copy of Windows.

I've tried it and it works nicely. However, I have to wonder if the same thing can't be done by simply using Windows Media Player and bookmarking your favorite radio stations and internet TV stations.

I didn't try recording anything so I'm not sure if that works very well.

click to expand picture
Quote from the website
Listen to over a thousand free radio and TV stations online over the Internet.

Record straight to MP3.

Listen to, or watch stations directly, without having to visit web sites and put up with their slow-loading pages and pop-up ads.

No additional hardware is required. This software supports both Windows Media and Real Video, so you can play most stream formats in this one program.

Watch video in full-screen if you wish.

http://www.theabsolute.net/sware/soltvradio.html
for WinXP, WinNT, Win2000

Old Newsletter

I like to look back and see what I was thinking about. Here's another letter from the wayback machine.





TIPS AND FEEDBACK

What free software do you need?

Notes from ClifNotes, Jul 2007, permalink Windows Tips

So what do you need? Write it down below and I'll see if I can find it. If you know the answer to someone else's question, add your answer there.

Previous "What Do You Need" comments
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/clifnotes/WhatDoYouNeed20070715


Freeware I couldn't find

Notes from ClifNotes, Jul 2007, permalink Windows Tips

Thanks to all who responded to my question WhatDoYouNeed. I especially would like to thank Gary at InternetFixes who tried to answer a few Windows specific questions.

Here is the freeware I could not find. If you have an answer, be sure to comment below.

Hello. I am looking for a program that automatically centers all open windows, whether they are folders, programs, picture viewers, or anything else viewable from the desktop. I'm not talking about a program that opens a window full size automatically, like IE Maximizer. I want a program that centers specifically sized window that don't take up the whole desktop. I haven't been able to find anything. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Jeff

Hey Clif, as you mention QuickTimeAlternative, you may know that it´s impossible to run Itunes whitout it. So I do need an alternative to Itunes. Do you have one in mind that doesn´t require neither .Net or Java? TIA

Carlos

looking for some free movie joiners

Dave

Dude this is such an awesome addition to your newsletter!

I need a program that catalogs the many programs i have downloaded automatically and provides me with information like the version it is. I know one program SoftCat (sorry can't remember link) does this but it is shareware. There is a freeware version but that does not automatically find and get the info for all the programs

Thanks
Dizzy

Internet Fixes Weekend Windup

tips from Gary at InternetFixes, Windows Tips

From Clif:
Gary at Internet Fixes continues to amaze me with hundreds and thousands of tips for your PC. Whatever your operating system, or how you use it, a visit to Gary's site will soon have you saying "So that's how you do this!".

Sign up for Gary's newsletter?

============================
Mondays News Letter Tips.
============================
1. When I choose "Shut Down" from the Start Menu, my computer hangs at the "Please Wait" screen
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01639.htm

============================
2. I am having a problem when starting up Windows - a message appears with a Windows - No Disk error. I have seen similar posts, and have followed the first steps. I have run Hijack This and saved the log file. Also, when booting in Safe Mode, there is no error message. Any advice on what to fix based on the Hijack This log?
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01640.htm

============================
3. I have a raft of KB files residing in my Window folder. What are these files and can I get rid of them?
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01641.htm

============================
4. When I go to Start / All Programs, I get a list that is in an order that is understood only by the computer gods. How do I get that listing to be in Alphabetical order?
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01642.htm

============================
5. I downloaded Windows Media Player onto my laptop. I’m not much of a computer whiz but from the researching I’ve done there is no way to completely rid yourself of the media player because it is a feature of the operating system. However, I do not want the media player on my laptop. Its an annoyance! Please help me find a way to remove it completely.
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01643.htm

============================
6. Recently, I created another computer administrator account on my Windows XP based computer. I now want to delete it. How can I go about it so that I will remain the only administrator as before
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01644.htm

============================
7. I was wondering how to stop my computer from auto filling in: search bars and email subject lines, login username lines etc. I would also like to know where to delete this information, I though it would be under internet options but it isn’t there, as far as I know, if you could help that would be great.
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01645.htm

============================
8. I’ve got 2 files of MS Outlook emails which are of 1GB each. How do I backup of those files? CDs are maximum 700MB. So is there any other way I can back up those files in a place other than My PC.
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01646.htm

============================
9. I would like to be able to take a picture file from Google images and place them on top the plain manila file that’s on my desktop. In other words how to I make a folder icon out of a picture file, jpeg or gif etc?
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01647.htm

============================
10. I recently increased my memory of 512MB to 1G. I use a Dell 8400 Hyper thread 3200 Intel chip. I have the hyper thread turned on in the bios. Windows XP OS. I didn't seem to get any performance increase, and wonder if I should change the setting in Performance Options from the Virtual Memory Paging file "custom size" (which is set to 1533 MB with max of 1536; which is what is says is recommended) to "system managed size", or something else. The Memory Usage is set for "system cache'. My Hard Drive is 40MB. Is there any other tweaking I could do?".
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01648.htm

============================
Click The Link Below To Join My News Letter.

The Form At The Link Below Covers Both Monday and Wednesdays News Letter.
http://www.internetfixes.com/newsletter.htm

============================
PC Problems? Use My New Detailed Help Form.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question.asp

==============================
Tips With Full Graphics. ALL ONE LOCATION!
http://www.internetfixes.com/tips_with_full_graphics.htm

============================
Have a Friend Or Colleague That One Of My Tips May Benefit? Forward This News Letter To Them!
============================
Backup Your Registry.
http://www.internetfixes.com/registry/index.htm

============================
Wednesdays News Letter Tips.
============================
1. Six to eight months ago, I deleted a folder that was full of jpeg pictures. I emptied the recycle bin as well. Can that folder and it's contents be recovered?
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01649.htm

============================
2. How can I show two (or more?) windows side by side. I've been switching back and forth between two websites in IE 6 and I'd like to be able to show them both simultaneously. I'd also like to be able to show two drawings (from the same drawing program) side by side. I'm using Windows XP Home edition with all the latest updates from Microsoft. I've tried to look up how to do this in a few books, unsuccessfully, perhaps because I'm not using the correct terminology.
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01650.htm

============================
3. We have three computers all running XP home. One of them has "lost" the windows media player. I think probably as a result of a virus. I have tried to download and reinstall media player (both media player 9 and 10) and get the same error message
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01651.htm

============================
4. I have a question I hope that someone can help me with....I just recently bought a laptop, and I don’t really know much about computers so I thought that with a laptop I could go on the internet anywhere that I'm at and not have to plug anything in (like dial up), but now I see that is not the case, so I’m confused, I thought laptops were supposed to be wireless. Is there something that I need to do or get to be able to connect to the internet without having to dial up? and I want to be able to take my laptop with me to Europe when I go on vacation this summer, would I be able to do that and how would I get an internet connection?
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01652.htm

============================
5. I am having problems installing 16 bit programs on our computer. The programs are supposed to work but the following box pops up when we try to run them.
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01653.htm

============================
6. My brother has a pop-up ad frozen on his system. He's tried several remedies but they have not worked. A radio computer tech suggested he uninstall Windows XP. He did not upgrade to XP. My question is should he simply use the uninstall feature on his system and what will he lose, if anything, when he does? Or would you suggest something else?
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01654.htm

============================
7. Is it possible to load 2 or more copies of "windows fax and picture viewer?", so you can switch between photos. If yes, how do you do this?
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01655.htm

============================
8. My pc takes forever to boot up and I would like to know what is required in the startup menu and how to change the startup menu to use only what I need to speed up.
http://www.internetfixes.com/readers_questions/IF01656.htm

============================
Hardware And Software Vendor Phone List, A-K

http://www.internetfixes.com/IF01051.htm

Hardware And Software Vendor Phone List, L-P

http://www.internetfixes.com/IF01052.htm

Hardware And Software Vendor Phone List, Q-Z

http://www.internetfixes.com/IF01053.htm

============================
IF01101 How Can I Stop Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) from opening documents in the IE.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01101.htm

============================
IF01102 I am unable to see full amount of a new hard drive I bought and installed.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01102.htm

============================
IF01103 Is Your Computer Running Slowly?
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01103.htm

============================
IF01104 My Web Browser Has Been Hijacked.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01104.htm

============================
IF01105 How Do I Enable / Disable Or Delete Internet Cookies?
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01105.htm

============================
IF01106 How Do I Prevent Windows Messenger Pop-ups?
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01106.htm

============================
IF01107 How Do I Stop Pop-up Or Pop-under Internet Ads?
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01107.htm

============================
IF01108 How Do I Enable And Or Disable The Microsoft Windows XP Firewall?
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01108.htm

============================
IF01109 You Can’t Find A Lost Windows Product Key?
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01109.htm

============================
IF01110 Hyperlinks Not Working In Internet Explorer 6.0.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01110.htm

============================
IF01111 Your Windows Installer Could Not Be Accessed Error (Windows XP).
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01111.htm

============================
IF01112 How Do I Create A New User Account Profile In XP.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01112.htm

============================
IF01113 Hyperlinks in Outlook Express Messages Stop Working.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01113.htm

============================
IF01114 Correct An NTLDR Or NTDETECT.COM Not Found Error.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01114.htm

============================
IF01115 Rectify A Missing Or Corrupt NTFS.SYS Error In XP.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01115.htm

============================
IF01116 The Text In Web Pages Appears Too Blurry In Internet Explorer 7. Is There A Setting To Fix This?
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01116.htm

============================
IF01117 How do I fix the "Details" view in Explorer?
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01117.htm

============================
IF01318 Resolving Most Hardware Conflicts.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01118.htm

============================
IF01319 How can I remove Windows XP Service Pack 2 from My Computer.
http://www.internetfixes.com/question_of_the_week/IF01119.htm

============================

Comments last week

Thanks to everyone who commented on the articles last week. You gave me more ideas and some good advice. If you see comments on an article, you will be missing out if you don't click on them to take a look.

If you commented last week, check to see who commented on your comment!

Here are the comments from last week.

Reviews
QuickTime Alternative - put Apple's bloatware on a diet •
Passion Audio Player - audio that gives you chills •
ClearProg - clearing your tracks •
Internet Window Washer - erase your surfing histories •
A-Squared Anti-Dialer - gives bad dialers the busy signal •
Stick - add personal tabs to your desktop •
Raptor - save your eggs •

Tips
What free software do you need? •
Returnil Virtual System Personal Edition •

Cool Websites
GCAst - create your own podcast station •
Game Giveaway of the Day •
DonationCoder Newsletter - awesome •





COOL WEBSITES

GetHuman.com - contact real people

TipsFromTiffany, July 2007, permalink Cool Website

From Tiffany:
Tired of listening to endless recorded messages when trying to contact a real live person at a big company? Fret no more!

http://www.gethuman.com/
This is one website you'll want to keep handy.

Tiffany Cartier
**************
"Never allow someone to be your priority, while allowing yourself to be their option."
********************************************
http://tiffanycartier.stumbleupon.com/
http://hello-kitty.group.stumbleupon.com/ =^..^=
********************************************

click to expand picture
Quote from the website
The gethuman™ movement has been created from the voices of millions of consumers who want to be treated with dignity when they contact a company for customer support.

http://www.gethuman.com/

CoolSites Newsletter this week

Here are a few links from Mark's CoolSites Newsletter. Be sure to visit his site and see the rest of his links this week.

July 20 COOLSITES Newsletter # 122 by Mark Donaldson

Quote from the website
COOLSITES is a list of safe, fun, useful, informative and just plain cool websites and programs that are FREE, FREE and FREE. All of the programs and websites I list are free. If I list anything that is so good but isn't free I will list the price with it.


http://luem42.googlepages.com/coolsites.html


Websites I've visited recently

Have you seen any cool websites you want to share with us?





NEW NEWS

SnapFiles.com - new and updated freeware

Source - http://snapfiles.com/freeware

News from Sarah in Tampa

Source - http://sarahintampa.com


Security news from Malware Advisor

blog by TeMerc Internet Countermeasures, source
Infected? Go to http://temerc.com for help


A view from CyberNirvana


CyberNirvana: Zia's blog about the web and web technology.
http://www.ziarezvi.com





OTHER STUFF

Get Gmail! and Get Firefox!

You need a free 2.8 GB Gmail account to access many of the cool features at Google. After more than two years in beta testing Gmail is open to the public. Just go to http://gmail.com and sign up for an account.

I think Gmail works best in the awesome Firefox browser. It's free, easy to use, and it's way more secure than Internet Explorer. My favorite thing to do is to customize Firefox so that it does much more than IE ever could. You can select new button controls for your toolbars, install extensions to add new features, or change the look of your browser with themes - the way Firefox looks and works is under your control.

Get Firefox!


Chatting at FreewareWiki

permalink

Now you can chat with anyone visiting a website by using Gabbly. To see who's gabbing at this website, click here.

Find out more about Gabbly.com

Frapper - you people live all over the world!

Wow! Over 700 people and still growing! I invite all of you to record your locations on this map. You can include as little or as much information as you wish. I think you'll enjoy seeing yourself there.

Here's a small look at my frapper map.



Write your own review

I get many of the reviews in the newsletter from the readers. You don't have to be a genius or computer guru. Just answer a few questions and send me a review. I'll probably put you in the newsletter.


What do you have to say?

Just tell me what article you are talking about and leave me your comment.

Have fun and surf safely.

Clif

http://clifnotes.net & http://freewarewiki.pbwiki.com
Devoted to promoting Freeware and Free Information


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